Ginger's Manifesto

Sry it's a bit late, the thing wouldn't let me copy and paste so I had to write it out again...

I haven't seen a large amount of theatre in my day. A few musicals here and there, maybe one or two drama productions, that's the extent of my knowledge. but I've seen, watched, and read enough to be able to grasp what a good play might have. Some of these rules only apply to specific kinds of productions, but who really cares?

1. There has to be a focus, a theme, a hook, if you will. Why is the audience coming to your show? Why are they staying? Give them a reason.
2. Some of the best dramas contront a specific issue head-on. But if you're going to go for an issue, choose something original, one that you know well and others barely know at all - choose something that will help your audience learn.
3. To me, any performance ought to be like a coversation between performer and audience. Ay opportunity for interaction should be seized, and way to play toward something you know your targeted audience can relate to should be utilized.
4. On the other hand, a play does no need an audience, nor is there any such thing as a good or bad audience - if you are an actor, you are your own audience, and while you must keep in mind those who are 'judging' you, it shouldn't just be aboout pleasing them.
5. As far as musicals go - the best musicals I've seen were ones that used the music to tell the story, rather than having a fully comprehensible and completed scene with a musical number tacjed on to make things interesting.
6. Logical chronology is not necessary, but whenever you're switching times, please make it clear.
7. Every performance ought to deel like a brand new experience for everyone involved (except maybe the techies, because they're the only classical sect of production)
8. You can make your play as long as you damn well please, but don't make your audience feel like they're continually waiting for something to happen. Some of the must frustrating theatre is the kind that drags on, but has very slow, incremental action.
9. Get a good costume designer, and don't piss them off.